For some reason the .22 magnum cartridge has me intrigued. I thought about one of the PMR-30s some time back, but of course they are nearly impossible to come across. Then I started thinking, "If I am going to look at buying a .22 Magnum gun, why not get a revolver?". I think the PMR-30 will eventually be able to be had cheap and will sell cheaper on the used market. However, something like a S&W mode 48 might be a little pricey now, but it will retain much of its value or even go up in value over the years.

I've sold some guns lately and have set that money back for a rainy day, but now I'm wanting to save some money and pick up a nice model 18 or something like the model 48 sometime in the future.

So, my question to you folks is what double action revolvers, old or new, are out there that are worthy of taking a look at? I know there are single actions out there, but I think I want a double action.

i love the 22 magnum..i have a taurus snubbie in 22 magnum...at the range people think its a 357 or 44 when im firing it but when i tell them its a 22 magnum they are like what ????mean little gun it is...

The .22 WMR has the advantage, if no other, of being slightly larger than .22 L.R. cartridges (Duh!) which is a big help when your hands are cold.

The .22 WMR revolver also took the .22 WRF cartridges, which were flat point lead bullets at slightly lower velocities. This made a good combination for gray squirrels in tall timber. The .22 WRF didn't destroy meat, gave about the same performance as high velocity .22 L.R.

Loaded with .22 WMR hollow points, the magnum works good on small game and varmints.

I had little positive to say re the .22 mag till I came into my Dad's 6" +/- barreled Single 6. Dad always used the .22 lr cylinder, but the mag cylinder was unused. As I had all the .22lr I needed in a Bearcat and a MkII semi, as a novelty more than anything else, I put in the mag cylinder and had at it.

From the longer barrel of the Single 6, the mag shows much more performance on pests than .22 lr out of the MkII or Bearcat. It shoots a good bit flatter too, useful on larger targets past 50. I can't shoot well enough to hit anything to small past 50 anymore. The load the 6 likes best is the old standard Win 40 JHP. It also shoots the FMJ version to same POI, but I don't use that load for anything.

The .22mag is too expensive to shoot as a plinker, but its improved punch over std .22lr has won me over as a field gun.

I am a huge fan of the 22 mag. I have a custom Taurus model 941 with a 3" barrel that I carry every now and then. The 22 mag is very underrated, thus I am taking advantage of this and buying ammo while its cheap! When you look at the energy produced from the 22 mag round against the 38 special, 32 acp, 25 acp, and the 380 you find that the 22 mag (out of a pistol range barrel) is able to compete with than them all. Here is the info to back my claim.

22 MAG
Winchester Dynapoint mag RF. It is a 45 grain bullet in a full length mag case but its velocity runs around 1550 fps... and 250 pounds of muzzle energy.
Barrel 6.6"
Source: Gunblast.com (Notice I didnt use wikapedia.com's rifle barrel length chart for this comparison)

Bill Jordan was reportedly a fan of the .22Mag and actually considered it to be a reasonable choice for self-defense.

Dave Emary, (Chief ballistics scientist for a major ammo maker with an extensive background in physics and aeronautical engineering and propellant design) commented in passing in a recent article in American Handgunner that he felt the .22Mag should be grouped into the general self-defense suitable calibers including the service pistol class.

The .22 Magnum can make a pretty impressive wound.
When the .22 Magnum came up in a conversation an aquaintance said he had been shot in the leg with a High Standard .22 Deringer by a guy he owed money to and pulled up his pants leg to show us the scars.
The bullet had made a small hole on his calf then passed through the leg bone, and the scar on the front of his leg was the size of a silver dollar and somewhat sunken in, and from the look of it the flesh had been macerated.
They probably had to cut out a lot of torn up muscle and maybe bone splinters.
This was a very large individual, legs like tree trunks as they say. On a average size leg the wound would have much worse.
He had been shot from quite a distance, so far that he at first didn't see that the man had a gun. I suspect the shooter was aiming at his back.
So even from a very short barrel and at a distance the .22 Magnum can maintain a good head of steam.

PS
At one time the U S military field tested a .22 Magnum belt fed machinegun for guarding checkpoints and gates in Vietnam.
From photos these were watercooled and about the size of a 1917 Browning. IIRC rate of fire was over 2,000 RPM.

A double barreled handheld .22 Magnum full auto with integral suppressors was also tested.

The CIA had a number of Walther PPK pistols in .22 LR converted to use a specialized cartridge based on the .22 Magnum.
I don't know the dimensions but I expect the cases were shortened so the cartridge would feed from the standard magazine.
They chose the .22 Mag case because at the time you could order empty primed cases for makingyour own taylored handloads.
They wanted a fairly heavy bullet at a subsonic velocity and wanted to be able to alter bullets for special purposes such as explosive bullets or bullets containing nerve toxins.

If the 22 magnum is what you want (ammo being higher as you know and all that).

You cannot go wrong with a 48 or 18.
Colt .22 Magnum OMMs are too pricey and hard to find to be realistic and the .22LR Troopers are headed that way as well.
Never owned any of the MKIIIs. They are available in 4, 6, and 8" in both LR and magnum with rising values on them also though.

I have had both two 6" 48s and two 6" 17s over the years that were all great shooters.

6" barrels on a belt holster are just a bit awkward in a rig while out roaming around though.

I currently have a 4" model 48 and and a Model 18 and am hanging on to these. Shooting the old school W-W FMJs or the HPs, the 48 will shoot under 2" groups consistently at 25yds. The 18 will do better with quality SV ammo. I use Wolf and Eley Sport.
It will surprise you how well these guns let you stay in the game shooting DA as well.
Both only hold six in the wheel though. That's good enough for me.

Using multiple speedloaders (I keep six for each gun) to facilitate loading without the fumbling of the rounds makes for more enjoyable shooting with less downtime.

Can't speak to the newer versions, but Smith & Wesson made very nice quality rimfires thru the mid 70s at least.
Lemons are few and far between.

I would think that any quality handgun like a 48 or an 18 being shot and cared for would hold it's value pretty well.

I think it is an in-between overpriced round. I seldom use in my Ruger Single Six. The shot capsules are good snake killers and I use those occasionally.
I will load the mags in my SS when hiking in the national forest. If stopped I just say I'm squirrle hunting. 22s are legal for tree rats. But, I really carry it for personal defense against dope growers and feral dogs.

I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan of the 22wmr, but I do like and respect it. When I first bought my six inch Ruger Single Six, it was because of the inter-changeable nature of going from .22lr to .22wmr whenever I wanted that got me interested. Granted, I don't shoot .22wmr much at all due to the costs, but I like having it there.

About 15 years ago when I was living in CT, I visited my parents in MA. The Ruger was one of the guns I had left my Dad for HD. It was one of the few guns he could fire with his arthritic hands. Anyway, this was the year the state saw record rain and there was serious flooding in the city, with some reports of looting. We had to leave all the doors open in order to allow the hose from the sump pumps to lead out into the drains. I kept that Ruger stoked with 40gr .22wmr JHPs and by my side entire night as I slept and guarded the entrances. Although I wish I had one of my 1911s, the .22wmr filled the role when I needed it too.

I, too, am a fan of the .22 magnum. In addition to the Single Sixes, CZ and Savage rifles, I have this little gem. It's a blast to shoot and usually gets attention at the range.

I remember those. The one I fired was very ammo sensitive and wasn't completely reliable, but when it was working, one of the most fun guns you can shoot. It had a real big fireball of a muzzle flash even during the day and always got everyone's attention.

It is my favorite caliber in a rifle. In hand guns it works fairly well and with the new Hornady Critical Defense .22 mag, we have a winner. It will perform in ballistic gelatin and presumably/hopefully in the real world. Very impressive purpose built ammunition for .22 mag revolvers. I really want a Ruger Single 9 and a Single 10 for that matter.

Love the .22 Magnum, it's one of my favorite cartridges. Although I only shoot it in rifles, it's benefits really shine there. I have a bolt action Marlin chambered in it. Makes an awesome rifle. Nice AMT DAnjet ... sure wouldn't mind having one of those someday!

__________________
597 VTR, because there's so many cans and so little time!

I believe the OP mentioned either a 48 or an 18 in addition to his comments on the .22 magnum cartridge.

I assumed the OP knew about the chambering difference when he mentioned the Model 18 as a possibility over the Model 48.

I do know the differences. I've just had to revoke my membership to the "Gun-of-the Month Club" so I can really only save for one or the other at this point. I'm just trying to figure out if I want to jump into a .22 magnum or not.

I have an AutoMag II just like DA500's that was my Dad's. Well over 20 yrs old and very reliable and accurate with Winchester 40gr hp's. Gets your attention when you pull the trigger, awesome muzzelflash.

I also love the .22 Magnum. I have a few NAA revolvers in .22 Mag/LR and use them for CC with Speer Gold Dots.

I would jump on an 8-shot LCR in .22 Mag. I believe it would be more effective in many self defense situations than a 5-shot .38 Special. The extra shots and lack of recoil could prove to be the difference someday.

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